Moyes relaxed over 2022 'winter' World Cup

Manchester United manager David Moyes has insisted he has no problems with the idea of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar being played in the European winter, even though this would cut across the Premier League season.

Manchester United manager David Moyes has insisted he has no problems with the idea of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar being played in the European winter, even though this would cut across the Premier League season.

Speculation is continuing that FIFA, football's world governing body, will eventually reschedule the tournament due to high summer temperatures in Qatar.

"It would need to alter things maybe in the year before and the year after and I think there will be no choice that it will have to move," said Moyes.

"But I'm sure the Premier League are already working on that and thinking about it but it does look as if it (the World Cup) will have to be changed.

"If it was played in the month of January it could be the equivalent of having a winter break (something that doesn't currently exist in English football but which is common in other major European league) so if they took that month out it would extend things and there would be lots of different add-ons.

"It's the World Cup - it will have to be played and the people in power will try to make the right decisions."

The Scot added changes to the League Cup, long regarded by leading clubs as the least important of England's three major domestic competitions behind the Premier League and FA Cup, might be needed in order to accommodate a winter World Cup.

"I think there would be no choice that it would have to move," said Moyes. "Maybe you'll need to get rid of FA Cup replays and limit the League Cup, maybe something along those lines."

'Respect the Vote'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he too had no qualms about moving the World Cup to the winter but distanced himself from calls to have a new vote on which country should stage the tournament.

"To me it looks reasonable to play in winter because the only thing that matters is the safety of people who go there and attend," Wenger said.

"The players can cope with the heat because they are prepared. They will be in great condition."

However, the Frenchman added: "You have to respect the vote and adapt to the situation. The only thing to me which looks surprising is they have not considered that (summer heat) at the moment of the vote."

Former Premier League chief executive Rick Parry said FIFA only had themselves to blame for the uncertainty.

"It is a mess of (FIFA's) own making," he told BBC Radio Five. "Everyone knows it is hot in the Middle East in July/August. We are where we are and a resolution has to be found.

"Can it (the World Cup) be moved? Of course it can, it is a case of rearranging rather than stealing weeks but let's have it done in a logical manner."

Meanwhile Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said the question of when to stage the 2022 World Cup was one he couldn't answer at this time.

"It is too far (into the future) for me," he said.

"But during that time we will think about it," added the Portuguese, who then jokingly suggested climate change could be a factor.

"The weather is changing a lot so maybe when we come to Qatar the summer is in December and in June it is cold!"

FIFA will defer any decision on a switch from summer to winter until after next year's World Cup in Brazil

FIFA president Sepp Blatter confirmed that move on his Twitter page, writing after FIFA's Executive committee meeting: "The ExCo decided to launch a consultation process among main stakeholders for Qatar 2022 dates. No decision will be taken before 2014WC."

The Premier League responded favourably to the review, saying in a statement: "We welcome the news that FIFA intends to conduct a thorough consultation process involving all of the appropriate stakeholders, including confederations, associations, leagues and clubs."